E. Abu Al-‘Aas bin Ar-Rabee‘, the husband of Zaynab, the daughter of the Prophet

When the people of Makkah sent their messengers to the Prophet to ransom their families, Zaynab, may Allah be pleased with her, sent money to ransom [her husband] Abu Al-‘Aas and she also sent a necklace that had been given to her by Khadeejah, may Allah be pleased with her, on the day of her wedding. When the Prophet saw the necklace, he was deeply affected and said: “If you can release her captive and give her what she sent, do so.” The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, said, “O Prophet, of course.” Hence, they released him and gave her what she had sent.

The Prophet made Abu Al-‘Aas pledge to permit Zaynab, may Allah be pleased with her, to join the Prophet in Madeenah. Therefore, he sent Zayd bin Haarithah and a man of the Ansaar [helpers] and said: “Stay at Yaajij until Zaynab passes and then accompany her until she arrives here.” [Abu Daawood]

Abu Al-‘Aas bin Ar-Rabee‘ was the son-in-law of the Prophet and he had never resisted the Da‘wah of the Prophet or harmed any of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them; he was busy with his work and trade. In the Battle of Badr, Abu Al-‘Aas was among the captives who were not fighting or even lifting a finger in the battlefield. After Quraysh had ransomed their captives, Zaynab, may Allah be pleased with her, the daughter of the Prophet and the wife of Abu Al-‘Aas, sent money in order to ransom him. She also sent a necklace that had been given to her as a present by her mother, Khadeejah, may Allah be pleased with her, on her wedding day so that she would wear it as a kind of ornament for her husband. When he saw the necklace of his daughter, the Prophet was touched as this necklace brought to his mind pleasant marital, family, and emotional memories. The Prophet was a father who had the loftiest parental emotions and the most honorable of human feelings. This moved the feelings of the Prophet and caused him to be nostalgic. Thus, the Prophet went to his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and requested them politely to return to Zaynab, may Allah be pleased with her, what she had sent. The Prophet gave them the choice as they could keep these things which were in their hands or they could dispose of them. He said: “If you can release her captive and give her what she sent, do so.”

This incident shows the mercy of the Prophet and his kindness towards his daughter. This illustrates the way the Prophet won the heart of his son in-law and made him embrace Islam. His son-in-law was known for his wisdom and sensibleness. The Prophet would praise Abu Al-‘Aas for his fair attitude while he was still a disbeliever.

Abu ‘Azzah was a poor man who had daughters. Abu ‘Azza said, “O Prophet, you are aware of my circumstances. I am needy and I have children, so please pardon me.” The Prophet released him and he made him pledge not to support any of the enemies of the Prophet .

Ibn Katheer said, “After that, Abu ‘Azzah broke his promise to the Prophet as he was manipulated by the disbelievers who made him change his mind and return to them. On the day of the battle of Uhud, Abu ‘Azzah was captured and he asked the Prophet to pardon him once again. The Prophet said to him: “I will not let you enter Makkah proudly and say, ‘I have deceived Muhammad twice.’” After this, the Prophet then ordered the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, to cut off his head.

The Prophet was kind to him and pardoned him without taking ransom from him the first time as he said he was poor and had daughters for whom he was responsible. However, he did not keep his promise of being peaceful towards the Muslims and he was taken captive; so, the Prophet treated him strictly and ordered the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, to execute him.

The captives were brought to Madeenah and Sawdah bint Zam‘ah, the wife of the Prophet was with ‘Afraa’, who were lamenting ‘Awf and Mu‘wwith, the two sons of ‘Afraa’. This was before the ordaining of Hijab. Sawdah said, “By Allah! I was there when people said that the captives had been brought. So, I returned to my residence as the Prophet was there. On entering the house, I saw Abu Yazeed Suhayl bin ‘Amr beside the room and his hands were fastened towards his neck with a rope. When I saw him, I could not control myself and said, “O Abu Yazeed, have you surrendered yourselves! Why did not you fight until you died honorably?” I suddenly heard the Prophet saying: “O Sawdah, are you inciting him against Allah and His messenger?” I said, “O Messenger of Allah, by Allah who has sent you with the truth, I could not control myself when I saw Abu Yazeed while his hands were fastened towards his neck to say what I said.”

Mikraz bin Hafs bin Al-Akhyaf came in order to ransom Suhayl bin ‘Amr. When he negotiated with the Muslims and they agreed, they said, “Bring us the ransom.” Mikraz bin Hafs said, “Take me instead of him and release him so that he would give you his ransom.” Hence, the Muslims released Suhayl and arrested Mikraz until they got the ransom. It was narrated in a disconnected Hadeeth that ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, said to the Prophet “O Prophet, allow me to cut the tongue of Suhayl bin ‘Amr so that he would not deliver speeches against you ever again.” The Prophet said: “No, I do not want to mutilate him so that I would not be mutilated in spite of the fact that I am a prophet.” After this, the Prophet said, “He may do something that you will not censure.”

Ibn Katheer said, “What the Prophet referred to, is the speech that Suhayl delivered in Makkah after the death of the Prophet when the people started to commit apostasy and hypocrisy became widespread in Madeenah and other places. Suhayl delivered a speech and said, ‘O people of the Quraysh, do not be the last people to convert to Islam and the first ones to commit apostasy. Anyone who stirs doubt, we will cut off his head’.”

The Prophet refused to cut off the tongue of Suhayl and considered this a mutilation and deformation of the creation of Allah The Almighty. Also, he told ‘Umar: “No, I do not want to mutilate him so that I would not be mutilated in spite of the fact that I am a prophet.” This is one of the greatest examples of the methodology of the Prophet that is set to be guidance for the Ummah (nation) in order to be victorious against its enemies.

Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “On the day of Badr, some captives could not afford to pay ransom. Thus, the Prophet made their ransom to teach ten of the sons of the Ansaar [helpers] how to read and write. Every captive who taught ten boys was considered to have ransomed himself.”

The fact that the Prophet accepted this teaching to be ransom, despite his dire need for money, shows how Islam valued knowledge, science and literacy. This is not strange as the first verse that was revealed dealt with reading: Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Recite in the name of your Lord who created - Created man from a clinging substance. Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous - Who taught by the pen.} [Quran 96:1-4]

There are many texts in the Quran and Sunnah that deal with the importance of knowledge and the great status of scholars and scientists. By so doing, the Prophet was the first to set the cornerstone of eradicating illiteracy and spreading literacy. Islam was the first religion to do so.

• Execution: The Prophet killed ‘Uqbah bin Abu Mu‘ayt and An-Nadhr bin Al-Haarith.
• Pardoning: To release captives in return for nothing. The Prophet did this once with Abu ‘Azzah Al-Jumahi.
• Ransom: To release captives in return for money. This is what the Prophet did with Al-‘Abbaas, Nawfal bin Al-Haarith, ‘Aqeel bin Abi Taalib and others.
• Enslavement: Sa‘d bin Mu‘aath did this with the captured Jews of Banu Quraythah. He ordered the fighters to be killed, money to be divided, and women and children to be taken as slaves.

The Prophetic Treatment of Captives of War - I